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Antiques

Antiques

the antique victorian bamboo shelf

Remember the antique Thebes stool I found a few weeks ago at a local antique store?  Well, in that same booth, I found another incredible find at an excellent price – an antique Victorian burnt bamboo shelf.  I think it was $85 with an additional 20%.  As I picked up the rickety old shelf and handed it to Jeff, he gave me a quizzical look.  Trust me.  It’s special.   I have seen these antique burnt bamboo shelves go for a lot of money.  This one, while just a little shifty from being such a waif-like shelf, was in excellent condition.  I normally have a piece in mind where I can use a piece, especially a piece of furniture before I purchase it, but this is the kind of piece you can use in a dozen different places.  I imagined it in the kitchen stack with linens and some copper pots

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All Things Home

favorite things | antique kilim rugs

Let’s talk about one of my favorite recent things – antique and vintage kilim rugs.  I’ve been admiring vintage and antique rugs in general because of the warmth and sense of history they bring to a room, but I’ve been interested in kilim rugs for a few reasons.  “Kilim” is a Turkish word meaning a flat woven rug that doesn’t have a pile.  This means they are hardwearing, pet/kid-friendly, and ideal for high-traffic areas.  They are also more affordable than most of their antique/vintage rug counterparts.  I have been buying them for use in halls, bathrooms, and in front of doors (they are great for those places because they are so flat), but they also come in large, area-rug sizes. The shop I’ve been purchasing my rugs from is Kilim Rug Home.  The owner has impressive reviews, offers great pricing, is very attentive when it comes to questions, and offers

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All Things Home

framed antique indenture

When I shared the living room curtains earlier this week, a few of you noticed the framed antique indenture hanging on the wall over the sofa.  Well, let’s talk about this piece of custom-made art! First off, let’s talk about what an indenture is since most of us are familiar with it only in terms of servitude.  An indenture is simply a contract and the subject of that contract can be a variety of subjects including labor, marriage, property, settlements, and more.  Second, you can find for a wide variety of prices but can get bargains for around $25. The price is based on the age, size, quality, and subject of the indenture.  I bought mine from last year.  I know she has more, so send her a message on her Instagram HERE if you’re interested in details. My particular antique indenture is a marriage contract from 1842 and is

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All Things Home

the antique thebes stool

When Jeff and I went on an outing last Monday, we walked through an antique store to look for some of the furniture pieces still on my shopping list.  I tried to stay focused on my list, but it is hard to ignore pieces that speak to me.  Such was the case with this odd little stool.  I had never seen one like it, but after years of antiquing, I know when I see something special and this little stool was special.  Better yet, it was well priced at around $30 and was discounted even further.  I handed the stool to Jeff and he gave me a questioning look.  I know it’s not on the list, but there is something about this piece and I want to buy it.  He’s learned to trust me in such matters and carried it up to the counter.  I have since learned that the

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All Things Home

Lucketts Fall Market 2022 Recap

The last few days have been a whirlwind and I finally have a chance to sit down and write to share what I’ve been up to.  Some of it has been personal – attending a banquet, Jeff’s installation into his new pastoral position (which included a very warm welcome for our entire family), enjoying fall colors from a local overlook (Pen Mar), and finally unpacking my suitcase; and some of it has been in that strange hybrid world where my hobbies and business collide – attending the Lucketts Fall Market, moving things back into the rooms where the hardwood floors were installed, and shopping for more pieces to fill holes, and starting to put my studio together.  There is so much to share, but let’s start with the Lucketts Fall Market that my mom and I attended on Friday. On Thursday, I picked up a cargo van in the hopes

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Antiques

Ekster Antiques & Uniques

For over a week, my mom and I planned a day out last Friday.  I had another x-ray and follow-up appointment for my foot (I graduated from the boot) and we were going to hit some antique shops afterward.  I was looking forward to getting out of paint clothes and out of the house and it would be a nice warm-up for Lucketts.  But, the plan was shaken up when I saw an awesome 20-drawer cabinet (that would be a perfect art supply cabinet) posted on Instagram.  The seller was Caroline of Ekster Antiques & Uniques, a dealer I have known and admired for many years. I loved her style before I knew her.  I sighed over her beautiful booth at Lucketts and her home and styling in magazines and decorating books.  And I had the privilege of being her booth neighbor at many markets and getting to know her

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All Things Home

The Lucketts Fall Market

I’m baaa-ack!!!  An awesome part of moving back to the east coast is that I can be a part of the Lucketts Market again!  And, this year, they have the Lucketts Fall Market, which is coming up on October 14-16, 2022. If you’ve been reading my blog for a long time, then you know Lucketts is a pretty important part of my story.  It was one of my favorite antique stores when I was a newlywed living just down the road in Leesburg, VA.  I saved my money for the Lucketts Spring Market each year so that I could buy a few special pieces for my house.  The first market I went to as a vendor was Lucketts, in a little 10 x 10 pop-up tent.  Lucketts is an amazing creative community that brought me in, took me under their wings, and cheered me on as my business and blog

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All Things Home

the first thing I bought for our new house | antique brass andirons

Before we get to the antique brass andirons, I need to thank you for all of the words of encouragement yesterday! I think it can be easy to glamourize moving into a new home, but it’s a tough process even if it’s a happy move into a lovely home.  Things felt more settled and normal yesterday and I slept like a rock last night.  Despite the stacks of boxes waiting to be unpacked, I made biscuits for breakfast, which made the kitchen smell and feel homey.  I sat at the table in the room that will be my studio and wrote a blog post.  I hung some of my clothes in the closet, did a load of laundry, and went to the grocery store. It was a few steps towards a new normal in this house and that felt good. Before we go forward into this new house and some

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I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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